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April 1942- H. c. FRENCH 2,280,696

ROAD SCRAPER Filed Sept. 9, 19:59 5 Shets-Sheet 1.

April 21, 1942. H. c. FRENCH ROAD SCRAPER Filed Sept. 9, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet 2 mw v ww mu 5 mu .MX I I l I I I I l April 21, 1942. H. c.FRENCH ROAD S GRAPE R Filed Sept. 9, 1959 5 SheetsSheet 5 lNV ENTORATTORNE April 21, 1942. H. c. FRENCH ROAD S CRAPER Filed Sept. 9, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet 4 M52211 BY ATTORN EY April 21, 1942. H. c. FRENCH ROADSCRAPER Filed Sept. 9, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR BY film/.1115,

$777M ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 21, 1942 I ROAD scum I Henry 0. French, Milwaukee. Win,allignor to The Hell Milwaukee, Wk, a corporation Wisconsin ApplicationSeptember 9, 1939, Serial No. 294,047

Claim;

The present invention relates in general to improvements in the art ofdirt moving, and relates more specifically to improvements in theconstruction and operation of scrapers for digging, hauling andspreading earth or the like.

Generally deflned, an object of the invention is to provide an improvedscraper assemblage which is simple but durable in construction, andwhich is moreover highly eflicient in use.

Some of the more important specific objects of my present invention areas follows:

To provide a new and useful load carrying scraper of the tractorpropelled and cable operated type, which is extremely flexible inoperation and may be used interchangeably for digging, hauling andspreading purposes.

To provide an improved road scraper of the tlltable bowl and front aprontype, which is conveniently manipulable to confine and discharge theloads in an expeditious manner.

To provide an exceedingly strong load carrying scraper assemblage oflarge capacity, and which is rapidly manipulable to elevate and tounload the dirt confining bowl, with relatively simple mechanism.

To provide an improved tiltable bowl scraper unit having simple andefficient mechanism for dumping the load from the bowl and for restoringthe latter to load receiving position.

To provide an improved cable actuated scraper having improvedinstrumentalities'for clamping and for renewing the operating cableswhen broken or damaged.

To provide a sturdy and durable scraper assemblage which may be readilyconstructed of sheet metal and standard bar stock or the like, atrelatively low cost.

To provide various other improvements in the construction and operationof dig and carry scrapers whereby the cost of construction and operationis reduced to a minimum, and which scrapers are operable with maximumefficiency and capacity under most adverse conditions.

These and other specific objects and advantages will be apparent fromthe following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my presentinvention, and of the mode of constructing and of assembling a dig andcarry scraper built in accordance with the improvement, may be had byreferring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisspeciflcation wherein like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a rear and side perspective view of the improved dig and carryscraper in load transporting condition with the bowl in loading carryingposition but elevated from'theground, and with the front apron lowered;

Fig. 2 is a front and side perspective view of the same scraper with theparts in the same position as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal vertical section through theimproved scraper of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the parts in normal cuttingand loading, or scraping position;

Fig. 4 is a similar longitudinal sectional view, showing the parts inload carrying or transporting position;

Fig. 5 is another similar longitudinal sectional view, showing the partsin load discharging and spreading position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged central longitudinal section through one of theimproved resilient cable connectors and clamps;

Fig. 7 is a further enlarged end view of the improved cable attachmentof Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the improved dig and carry scraperassemblage.

While I have shown the improvements as being specifically embodied in atwo cable actuated dig and carry road scraper of large capacity andhaving a bodily tiltable load confining bowl cooperable with a pivotallysuspended front apron, it is not the intent to thereby unnecessarilyrestrict the scope or utility of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the improved dig and carry road scraperspecifically illustrated therein comprises in general a rugged frontframe [0 transportable by and swingably suspended from a front wheelsupported carriage II, and having laterally separated rearwardlyextending integral side arms I2; a rugged rear frame i3 transportable byand swingably suspended from a rear wheel supported carriage i4, andhaving laterally separated forwardly extending integral opposite sidewalls or plates i5 disposed between the rear ends of the front framearms I! and rigidly interconnected by means of a front crossbeam iii, alower cross-beam i1, and upper and lower rear cross-beams l8, l9respectively; alined pivots 20 articulably interconnecting the rear endsof the front frame arms l2 with the medial lower outer portions of therear frame side plates I 5 slightly above the cross-beam l1; an L-shapedload supporting bowl 2| pivotally suspended at the front portion of itsbottom 22 from the rear frame l3 near the cross-beam H by means of apivot shaft 23, and having its rear wall 24 cooperable with the rearbeams I8, I9 to support the load; a front load confining apron 25 havingintegral side arms 25 located between and swingably suspended from theupper medial inner portions of the side plates I5 by means of pivot pins21, and being cooperable with the lower cross-beam I! or with a cuttingblade 28 mounted on this cross-beam, and with the side plates I5 tonormally confine the loads within the tiltable bowl 2| a framearticulating lever 29 swingably suspended at its medial portion from thefront frame III by means of a pivot shaft 30 and having its rear endconnected to the medial portion of the front cross-beam I6 of the rearframe I3 by means ofa set of links 3| and pivot pins 32, 33; improvedmechanism for effecting actuation of the bowl 2| and of the apron 25 toswing these elements about their suspension pivots; and other improvedmechanism for bodily raising and lowering the bowl 2|, apron 25 andblade 23.

The frames I 0, I3, bowl 2| and apron 25 may be formed of rigid sheetmetal plate welded or otherwise firmly united; and the front frame I3and carriage II are transportable on rubber tired wheels 34 whichnormally travel in front of and centrally of the path of scraping anddumping, while the rear frame I3 and carriage I4 are transportable onsimilar wheels 35 which travel rearwardly of and near the extremeopposite sides of the path of cutting and dumping, thereby providing astable transportable support for the scraper unit. The front carriage IIis preferably provided wth a suitable draw bar 36 adapted for convenientattachment to a tractor, and the rear carriage I4 may be provided with apusher extension and paid 31 for facilitating advancement of the scraperby means of a power unit applied to the rear of the assemblage, seeFigs. 1 and 2. The front frame I is of box-beam construction and must beof sufllcient height to clear the carriage II and wheels 34 when theseelements are swung about their vertical axis for steering and lateralguiding, and the lever supporting pivot shaft 30 is mounted upon abracket 33 secured to the upper cross-beam of the frame III. The rearframe I3 is swingably suspended from the axle of the rear carriage I4 soas to swing only in a vertical plane and not laterally of the wheels 35,and the opposite side walls or plates l of the frame I3 may beabundantly re-' inforced by means of external ribs 39 in order to avoiddistortion or deflection thereof. These parallel vertical plates I5 aremoreover rigidly united by the cross-beams I6, II, I8, I9 which arewelded or otherwise firmly attached thereto; and the space between thelower beams |I, I3 is open as shown in Fig. 5 in order to permitmaterial which may escape from the bowl 2|, to drop freely to theground, thus making the bowl the primary load holder.

The L-shaped bowl 2| or movable load carrying element which constitutesthe sole means for directly supporting the weight of a load 40 as willbe clearly apparent from Figs. 3 and 4, preferably has its bottom 22 andrear wall 24 formed of a continuous durable sheet of metal, and is alsoabundantly reinforced by ribs 4|, a top transverse beam 42, and a curvedcorner plate 43, the latter being provided with supporting cleats 44.The bowl 2| is swingable between the side plates I5 of the frame I3about the pivot shaft 23, and when the bowl is in load receiving andsupporting position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the upper beam 42 coactswith the rear frame beam I 3 while the curved plate 43 coacts with thecross-beam I3 through the lugs orcleats 44 which are rigidly attached tothe plate 43. The upper portion of the rear wall 24 is provided withintegral ears 45, and the cross-beam I3 of the rear frame I3 ispreferably provided with an upwardly and forwardly inclined stiff plate43 extending entirely across the top of the bowl 2| and cooperating withthe rear wall 24 thereof, to prevent material from spilling over thebeam I8, and to also direct the material rising along this wallforwardly into the bowl. The lower cross-beam I] of the rear frame I3must be of exceptionally rigid construction, and the cutting blade 28which is reversible, is detachably secured to this beam I! by means ofbolts 41 or the like.

The front apron 25 which spans the gap between the side walls I5 of theframe I3, may be built up of sheets of metal welded together as 201illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and has a lower reinforced edge portion48 which is cooperable with the blade 28 to effectively confine the load40 within the bowl 2|, see Fig. 4. The front of the apron 25 is providedwith rigid ears 49, and the side arms 26 which swingably support theapron 25 are abruptly curved in order to clear other movable parts andto avoid interference by the load 40 to lowering movement of the apron.One or both of the apron suspension arms 26 which swing between and inclose proximity to the side walls I5, may be provided with a bowlkick-back projection 53 near its pivot pin 21; and these projections 50are so formed and positioned that when the apron 25 is dropped fromuppermost position as shown in Fig. 5, and the bowl 2| is uppermost, theprojections will strike the bowl bottom 22 and will thereby start thebowl 2| on its descending movement toward lowered position.

The mechanism for effecting actuation of the bowl 2| and front apron 25so as to swing these parts about their respective suspension pivots 23,21, may comprise either a single cable for elevating both the bowl andapron in proper sequence. The rear frame I3 is preferably provided witha pair of upwardly and forwardly inclined tracks or rails 5| the rearlower ends of which are rigidly attached to and supported by thetransverse plate 45, and the front upper ends of which are fixedlysupported from the cross-beam I6 by means of outwardly inclined struts52, see Fig. 8. A pair of cable sheaves 53 are mounted on a shaft 54carried by the upper end of an L-shaped bowl actuating arm 55 the lowerend of which is attached to the ears 45 by a pivot pin 56, and the shaft54 is provided with end rollers 51 which are adapted to travel along theinclined parallel rails 5|. The sheaves 53 are therefore simultaneouslyrollable along the tracks 5|, and when these sheaves are advancedupwardly along the track rails, the bowl 2| is tilted about its pivotshaft 23, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5, and dumps the material thereinforwardly over the blade 28. The front apron 25 has a single cablesheave 58 journalled in its front flanges 49 by means of a shaft 59,

lever 28, by means of a journal shaft 84; and a single continuousflexible member or cable 58 coacts with all of the sheaves 53, 52, 58,58, in such manner that a pull on the cable 85 will first elevate theapron 25 and will thereafter tilt the bowl 2|.

The cable 55 passes from the equalizing sheave 88 upwardly over one ofthe sheaves 52; from thence downwardly around the sheave 58; from thesheave 58 upwardly and around another sheave 52; from this second sheave52 rearwardly and around one of the sheaves 53; from this sheave 53forwardly and around the third sheave 52; from this sheave 52 rearwardlyaround the second sheave 58; from this last sheave 55 forwardly andaround the fourth sheave 52; and from this last sheave 52 rearwardly andthrough one of the improved cable clamps 55 to .a cable supply reel 51mounted upon the rear end of the frame l3, see Fig. 8. The front end ofthe blade elevating lever 28 has a shaft 58 mounted thereon, and thisshaft 58 provides a rotary support for live alined sheaves 55. Mountedupon a shaft 14 journalled at the forward upper end of the front framel5, is another group of five sheaves 15, and in front of these sheaves15 a group of four parallel vertical guide rollers II is located. Theelevating cable 55 for the apron 25 and bowl 2|, after coacting with thesheave 53, extends forwardly and upwardly over one of the sheaves 58 anddownwardly therefrom beneath one of the complementary sheaves 15. Fromthis lower sheave 15, the cable 55 extends forwardly over a guide roller12 and between two of the rollers H to the hoisting drum or winch, whichis not shown, but is ordinarily located near the drivers seat on thepropelling tractor. The arrangement of cable 55 and of the sheaves withwhich this cable coacts, is obviously such that when a pull is exertedon the cable 55- the front apron 25 and bowl 2| will be elevated asshown in Fig. 5, whereas release of the pull on the cable 55 will causethese elements to drop by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 4. Thefront apron 25 may however be elevated and retained in any intermediateposition, such as shown in Fig. 3, without affecting the position of thebowl 2|.

The front and rear frames l5, l3 which are articulably connected by thepivot shafts 25, may be swung relatively to each other about theseshafts, by means of another flexible member or cable 13. This cable 13extends from the hoist or winch on the tractor, rearwardly between theother set of vertical guide rollers over the horizontal guide roller 12,and after winding successively about the remaining complementary sets offront sheaves 59, 15, the cable 13 passes through another cable clamp 55and connects with a second cable supply reel 51 carried by the frontframe "I, see Fig. 8. The cooperation between the cable 13 and thesheaves 59, I5 is such that when a pull is exerted on the cable I3 thelever 29 will be swung about its pivots 35 from the position shown inFig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, thereby elevating the cutting blade."away from the ground. When the pull on the cable 13 is released, theweight of the rear frame l3 and bowl 2| will cause the blade 28 to movedownwardly either to the position shown in Fig. 3, or to someintermediate position such as illustrated in Fig. 5 dependent upon thecomplete or only partial release of the pull. The two cables 55, 13 aremanipulable independently of each other, and are also independentlyrenewable.

The improved cable clamps 55 which cooperate with the cables 55, 18 areof similar construction as shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, and each'ofthese clamps 55 comprises a tubular casing 15 rigidly attached to theadjacent frame |5, I8 and having a flange 18 secured to one end thereof;an elongated tube 11 extending through and beyond the casing 15 andhaving nuts 18 secured to one end and coactlng with the casing flange15, the opposite end of the tube 11 having a head 18 rigidly attachedthereto; a helical compression spring embracing the tube Fl and coactingwith the flange I5 and head 18; a pair of wedge lugs 8| formed integralwith the head 18 and coacting with a cable 55, '13 extending through thetube 11; and a wedge element 82 also coacting with the cable and withthe lugs 8| to firmly clamp the cable in any desired position. The nuts18 may obviously be adjusted to vary the compression of the spring 85,and the wedge element 82 is provided with a hole 83 for facilitatingremoval thereof. The head 18 may also be provided with a transverse hole84 for facilitating removal of the wedge element 82, and when a cable55, 18 becomes disabled, it may be readily replaced from one of thecable reels 51 by merely removing the clamping wedge element 82 coactingtherewith and by subsequently drawing the new cable stock through thetube 11 and replacing the wedge 82 in proper position against the newsection. The casing I5 acts as a guard for the spring 85, and thebracket 55 guards the sheaves 52; and a similar guard plate 85 may beprovided for the sheaves 58. The rails 5| may also be rigidlyinterconnected by a guard plate 85, and other guards may be providedwherever needed or desired.

During normal operation of the improved scraper, the front and rearframes l5, l3 may be relatively adjusted so as to either lower the blade28 into the cut as shown in Fig. 3 for loading purposes, or the blademay be elevated to the position shown in Fig. 4 for load carryingpurposes; or the frames may be relatively positioned as in Fig. 5 fordischarging and spreading purposes. When the assemblage is in theposition shown in Fig. 3 and the scraper is advanced along the ground,the load 45 will enter the bowl 2| and will pile up within this bowl. Ifthe load 45 reaches a height above the rear wall 24 of the bowl 2|, thenthe inclined plate 45 will become effective to prevent spilling of dirtand to direct the excess dirt forwardly into the bowl 2|. Any dirt whichescapes along the opposite sides of the bowl 2| or over the rear wallthereof, will obviously fall freely to the ground since the bowl 2| isin fact the only load sustaining element in the assemblage. Duringscraping, the front apron 25 may be elevated to the position shown inFig. 3, or to any greater height, and as the load 45 accumulates withinthe bowl 2|, it is preferable to gradually lower the apron 25 so as tomost effectively confine the load 45.

When the bowl 2| has been properly filled with dirt, the front apron 25may be lowered into engagement with the blade 28, and the entire load 45may be elevated from the ground as shown in Fig. 4. In order-to do this.it is only necessary to release the cable 55 whereupon the apron 25 willdrop by gravity. The scraper with its confined load 45 may then betransported over the ground until it becomes desirable to discharge theload from within the bowl 2| In order to discharge and simultaneouslyspread the load 45, it is preferable to somewhat lower the cutting blade28 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and this may be done by releasingthe tension on the cable 13. When the blade 28 has been properlypositioned, the cable 13 may be held, and the cable 65 may then beactuated to first elevate the front apron 25 to its extreme uppermostposition, and to thereafter tilt the bowl 2! to the position illustratedin Fig. 5. During such tilting of the bowl 2|, the rollers 51 will rideupwardly along the rails 5| and will cause the link 55 to positivelytilt the bowl. The load 40 will then be gradually delivered over theblade 28 and onto the ground, and the dirt will be simultaneously spreadas the scraper unit is advanced along the ground.

When the load has been fully discharged from the bowl 2|, the tension onthe cable 85 may be released. The apron 25 will then tend to drop bygravity, and while the bowl 2| should return to its normal loweredposition by gravity, it may tend to remain in tilted position. The lugs50 on the front apron 25 will then become effective and will directlyengage the bottom 22 of the bowl 2|, thus starting the bowl on itsinitial movement toward lowered position. Since the bowl 2| has noopposite side walls, the lug 50 will directly engage the bowl bottom 22and will thus insure return movement of the bowl 2| without danger ofdamaging the same.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that theimproved mechanism may be readily utilized to effectively load the dirtcarrying bowl, to transport the load from one place to another, and tofinally discharge and spread the dirt during discharge thereof. All ofthese operations may be quickly and effectively accomplished with theaid of relatively few cables, and the improved cable clamping mechanismobviously provides means for rapidly renewing the cables when theybecome disabled or broken. The use of the lever 29 mounted on the frontframe It and coacting with the foremost portion of the rear frame I8,provides simple and effective means for changing the position of theblade 28, and this blade 28 may obviously be supported either on thecross-beam H, or directly on the tiltable bowl 2|. When the bowl 2| isin lowermost position, it is rigidly supported by the rear beams I8, i9,and the front beam I6 provides a support for the rails 5i and thesupporting struts 52. The various cable sheaves are effectivelyprotected against possible damage due to exposure tothe weather anddirt, and the entire assemblage is of extreme rigidity and strength andwill thus eifectively withstand the abuse to which such machines arenormally subjected. The improved machine has proven highly satisfactoryin principle, and may be readily controlled and manipulated by a singleoperator located on the propelling vehicle.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this inventionto the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use,herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scopeof the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In combination, a transportable frame, a load carrying bowl having abottom formed with a rear wall and movable relative to said frame, atrack carried centrally above said frame, sheaves movable along saidtrack and being connected to said bowl, and a cable for advancing saidsheaves along said track to move said bowl relative to said frame.

2. In combination, a transportable frame, a

load confining bowl having a bottom formed with a rear wall and tiltableupon said frame, a track supported by said frame centrally above saidbowl, sheaves movable along said track and being connected to said bowlremote from its axis of swing, rollers supporting said movable sheavesupon said track, and a cable for advancing said sheaves along said trackto tilt said bowl relative to said frame.

3. In combination, a transportable frame having opposite side portionsrigidly interconnected by an upwardly and forwardly inclined transverseplate member, a scraper blade interposed between said side portionsforwardly. of said plate member, and a load carrying element forming amovable bottom swingably supported near said blade and having anupwardly projecting rear portion the upper edge of which is swingable:long and in close proximity to said plate mem- 4. In combination, a.transportable frame having opposite side portions rigidly interconnectedby an upwardly and forwardly inclined transverse plate member, a scraperblade interposed between said side portions forwardly of said platemember, a load carrying element forming a movable bottom swingablysupported near said blade and having an upwardly projecting rear portionthe upper edge of which is swingable along and in close proximity tosaid plate member, and means operable from the front of said frame forswinging said element to dump material over said blade.

5. In combination, a wheel supported transportable frame havinglaterally spaced opposite side walls rigidly interconnected at the rearby a transverse forwardly and upwardly inclined plate member and attheir medial lower portions by a transverse beam, a scraper bladecarried by said beam, and a load carrying element forming a movablebottom pivotally suspended from said beam and having its rear endprovided with an upwardly projecting scraping edge swingable along andin close proximity to said plate member.

6. In combination, a wheel supported transportable frame havinglaterally spaced opposite side walls rigidly interconnected at the rearby a transverse forwardly and upwardly inclined plate member and attheir medial lower portions by a transverse beam, a scraper bladecarried by said beam, a load carrying element forming a movable bottompivotally suspended from said beam and having its rear end provided withan upwardly projecting scraping edge swingable along and in closeproximity to said plate member, and cable means operable from the frontof said frame for swinging said element to dump material over saidblade.

7. In combination, a transportable frame having a cutting blade rigidlyattached thereto, a load carrying bowl having a bottom and a rear wallpivotally attached to said frame near said blade, a track carried bysaid frame intermediate the width of said bowl, a sheave movable alongsaid track, a link connecting said sheave with said bowl remote from thepivotal axis of the latter, and means for advancing said sheave alongsaid track to tilt said bowl about said axis.

8. In combination, a transportable frame having a cutting blade rigidlyattached thereto, a load carrying bowl having a bottom and a rear wallpivotally attached to said frame near said blade, a track carried bysaid frame directly over said bowl and intermediate the width of thelatter, a sheave movable upon rollers along said track, a linkconnecting said sheave with the rear wall of said bowl remote from thepivotal axis of the bowl, a second sheave fixedly journaled to saidtrack, and a cable coacting with said sheaves to advance said movablesheave along said track and thereby tilt said bowl about said axis.

9. In combination, a transportable frame having opposite side wallsinterconnected by a transverse front beam member and by a transverserear forwardly and upwardly inclined plate member, a scraper bladeinterposed between said side walls rearwardly of said beam and forwardlyof said plate member, a load carrying element having a movable bottomand having a rear wall, said element being pivotally supported near saidblade and having the upper edge of its rear wall swingable along and inclose proximity to said plate member, a track carried by said frame beamand plate member above said element and intermediate the width of thelatter, a sheave movable along said track and being connected to saidrear wall portion of said element, and cable means for advancing saidmeans along said track.

10. In combination, a transportable frame having opposite side wallsinterconnected by a transverse front beam member and by a transverserear forwardly. and upwardly inclined plate member, a scraper bladeinterposed between said side walls rearwardly of said beam and forwardlyof said plate member, a load carrying element having a movable bottomand having a rear wall, said element being pivotally supported near saidblade and having the upper edge of its rear wall swingable along and inclose proximity to said plate member, a track carried by said frame beamand plate member above said element and intermediate the width of thelatter, a sheave movable along said track, a link pivotally connected tosaid sheave and to said swinging rear wall of said element, and cablemeans for advancing said sheave along said track.

11. In combination, a transportable frame having opposite side portions,a scraper blade interposed between said side portions, a load carryingelement forming a movable bottom swingablysupported near said blade andhaving an upwardly projecting rear portion, a transverse plate memberconnecting opposite side portions of the frame and projecting upwardlyand forwardly at an incline above the upwardly projecting rear portionof the load carrying element and normally cooperating therewith to forma rear wall, the upper edge of said upwardly projecting rear portion ofthe load carrying element being swingable along and in close proximityto said plate member to remove material from contact with the latter.

12. In combination, a transportable frame having opposite side portions,a scraper blade interposed between said side portions, a load carryingelement forming a movable bottom swingably supported near said blade andhaving an upwardly projecting rear portion of less height than said sideportions, a transverse plate member connecting opposite side portions ofthe frame and projecting upwardly and forwardly at an incline above theupwardly projecting rear portion of the load carrying element andnormally cooperating therewith to form a rear wall, the upper edge ofsaid upwardly projecting rear portion of the load carrying element beingswingable along and in close proximity to said plate member to removematerial from contact with the latter.

HENRY C. FRENCH.

